Travertine on pool deck

[Travertine issue]

Hi! I am new to the forum. I have a brand new pool. (not filled yet). The builder suggested travertine. What a nightmare.....It was beautiful for the 1st week but now it has like a rust or yellow stain on it. Seems like it happens whenever it gets wet. I can remove the rust stains with various different products. But, 3 days later the stain is back. So, Im not sure if we should clean it and seal it? If so, what should we use.

Thank you and P.S. we do have well water.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hey there Is your pool finished?

Did your pool builder install the travertine? Have you questioned the builder and let them know your unhappy?

Do you have iron in your well water and does it get on your deck and sit?

Others here will probably chime in with info about their travertine.... stay tuned

Maddie

 

[Travertine issue]

Hi Maddie,
Yes, we reported it to our builder. Supposedly they will be sending out their tile rep.....
Probably our well water has iron on it. But, our pool builder wants to fill our pool with well water.

Thanks Maddie!

 

[Travertine issue]

Do you think if we seal it that it will prevent the yellow? If so, what is the BEST thing to seal it with?

 

[koffey]

You need a penetrating sealer. travertine, limestone, is a high porous stone and tends to look rusty because it's full of iron deposits. Water will naturally make it look rusty because it is indeed rusting.

 

[Travertine issue]

You need a penetrating sealer. travertine, limestone, is a high porous stone and tends to look rusty because it's full of iron deposits. Water will naturally make it look rusty because it is indeed rusting.

We used Aqua Mix. It did nothing. What's best?

 

[koffey]

We used Aqua Mix. It did nothing. What's best?

Not really sure. Some are better than others but I don't use travertine. I'm sure someone with this stone would be able to give advise.

 

[Toxophilite]

There is always the caveat with using sealer on porous stone outdoors. While yes, you can seal the top against stains of spills or exposure, that's all you can seal. In interior use, where you find most travertine advise, that is the only side, the top, with exposure. Outdoors, the underneath is soaking up water and dampness. So, the caveat to outdoor stone is that by sealing you make getting at what comes from inside out that much harder to get at to clean off.

Yours looks more like sand staining, or iron from sand, since it's coming through seam where water stood. I'd be surprised if soft water blaster wash didn't rinse off, or, try a brush and water first.